Clamping device



H. D. CULVER CLAMPING DEVICE May 5, 1953 Filed hug. 21, 194e 2 SI-IEETS-SHEET l INVENTOR. HARRY D. CULVER. Iy an-anx ATTORNEY H. D. CULVER CLAMPING DEVICE May s, 1953 2 SHEETS- SHEET 2 Filed Aug. 21, 194e zNvmvroR. HARRY D. CULVER. BY

' 2 ATTQRNEYZ 01E- v anyloperater free-- 50S,

'Specifically pointe inthe: descriptiqn: like Pa s fwill be idiliili'djby Patented May 5, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,637,268 QLAMEING nevica Harry D. Culver, Bellevue, Ky., assignor of one- Y tlhi/rd" to lJohn C. lveart-hyandL onethirdto Ge 'ge Sdchvvenlzfer, Cineinnati-`0hio Application Angus el, 194s Seel Nieen is nieuwe. (ci. ite- 232) 1 Frhis invention relates to 1in-tures or devices im' use in packaging Sheet materiale eiich '5S st aeks Yof .paper she-ets. jvlVi'ore `speciiical1ythe invention resides 1in a foot controlled'devie which `heide the @tasks Qf .fishi's in alignment to facilitate'theuapplicationofla eord or'tapelt'o form scolaresche@ The Object Qf y i ntionis to provide a holding fixture the orrn of seht-adjusting Aelamping. device forlaniinatedfhundi-es .or 'stacks .feheetmaterials- Another fobieot ofinvention is to facilitate theI holding and shapingpf ylanein ated hundl-esor stacks ofvsheet materials while thehundlesor A .further 'object of: my invention is* tOi efevide la;elampi-ng (leviceftiuiaig.;cany be operated electr-,icallyoreinehani ally 1b pedals to hold Stacks of laminated nmaterial nda. yto leave v`the, ,hands y. lthe" 1url iriated stacks cir-bundles togethergandto ov-ercone the inherent :movement between:theelamieaie Sheets :ferminsihebundleiwhile bieding Grit-lies there lioi gether.

prldentlyyand .leaye. `t v1.@pereltlorfs. handy Yfree ,ation i Without the 1,911 lf. the Rekv The-foifegoing and herfolojeetslavill bemore 1iin theser speciiica'tions.

identical numb ers.

In the drawings: fFigure 1 ,;is aA side 'vilvewinvv elevation of my l zislainping mechanism.

, Eigure 2,. is aftop plan 1view .of my clamping smallest size yofnpahage.

Figure 3 is',` atop', eplan view Y. ot `my lamping device showing the `clarnp expanded .to theV ex- '\treme size nfor Ianaal?,agel

Figure 4.is a viewflingperspectveoi the clampling posts with a bundle oihwrappedpaperl sheets .lor money betweentheni.'

Figure 5 is a view ,i artialtperspective.showie'aiviuilsevemi bunnies mechanism taken on line L-'8 of Flgi'' 2.

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic perspective view of an electrical system 'With'thepedal controls for the'olanipactuatng mechanism; 5'

Figure .lisa View' in front elevation of the eiamp actuating mechanism." f "The bundling 'or' tying together of stacks of paper sheets or money vis an awkward operation `because 'the sheets slide relative to'eac'hothei. `Unlessthe sliding aetion is prevente'dfthebundles will be loo-se and ,their4 Ysizes vaiableiVLoos'e bundles cannot be handled vvery easilyhandthey 'also' occupy more space in storage. This jisfiartioularly true of paper inoneywherelrm corn'- pactV hunjdles `are'necessary 'so' that they will 're- Inriainjtogether lancjintact` Aafter cuntihgand Paper ysheets and money especially are very liinp and hence' elusive to bundiingwith'out:difculty. Du'e" tov the' liniloerl conditionofvpaper sheets or money nioref jtirne and effort arespent to ,Keep4 the bundlein shape during the tyingtoe ether than tlifef agetual operation of thetying onwrapping cord orbands'. f i 'i My clampingdeviceY acts asa gag-e to nproperly position Ythe"sheets landy align them so thattiie leuno'llesof sheets of"` the same size willfbeVv unifo'rin in diniension. Since the sheets *cannot sliden each 1otl'ierthey are more Vreadily compressed and pulled' together while lieing tied ancllasafresullt yon atable orrstand l. v 'lhistaloleor standisalso used to mount sheaves 2 and @Pedal'fmyaiiis mechanism (to be described).

1A hase` 3 issecured to the table or stand and has side walls and end lvvailsf S to which" "are ,xed rails E upon which ai shoes keep the guide bars I in slidable perpendicular relation to the rails.

There are two pairs of guide bars. One pair of the guide bars are retained parallel and in slidable relation to each other and extend between the side walls 4 and the other pair of guide bars are also retained parallel and in slidable relation to each other but perpendicular and in slidable relation to the other pair of guide bars and extend between the end walls 5. Each pail` of guide bars are and move at right angles to the other pair of guide bars. The guide bars are arranged to move relative to each other individually, and independent of each other, in pairs independent of the other or simultaneously with relation to each other. Normally all the guide bars move equidistant to or from each other when they are moved by an operating mechanism (to be described).

There are four right angular shaped jaws l1 for clamping and gaging sheet material to be bundled or packaged. The jaws are spaced apart and each has a horizontal base plate i8 upon which the sheets rest and sufficiently high above the base so that an operator can reach in between the jaws and underneath a stack of sheets while tying them together. Integral with and supporting the jaws are posts i9 that are supported on and fixed to bearing slide blocks 20. The bearing slide blocks have holes 2| and 22 'through them and these holes are at different levels at right angles to each other through which the guide bars it are free to slide. Each of the bearing slide blocks can move individually independent of the other, in pairs independent of the other pair or simultaneously relative to each other. In addition to being movable on and relative to the guide bars they can move in relation to each other on their own supporting guide bar. The guide bars are the means for actuating the jaws.

Torsion springs 23 are connected between each pair of guide bars and pull the guide bars comprising a pair towards each other and the common axial center of my clamping device. These springs are in line with cables 24 and 25. The cables actuate the guide bars in pairs and when operated on by a mechanism (to be described) pull the guide bars apart towards the end and side walls 4 and 5. When the pull on the cables is released the springs will react and pull the guide bars together towards the axial center of my clamping device and keep them in that position.

On the axial center of my clamping device there is a column 26 with a top 21 in a plane on level with the bottom I8 of the jaws. The top of the column acts as a center rest and supporting stop for the sheets or package and prevents undue sagging while stacking and tying the materials held between the jaws.

In Figure l, I have illustrated a mechanism to operate my clamping device. The cables 24 extend around sheaves 28 and 2 and are joined together to form a single continuous cable 29 which extends down to and is swivel connected to a foot operated lever 30. The other cables 25 are also joined together to form a single and continuous cable and extend down to another foot operated lever 3|. When the end 32 of either foot lever is moved downward its corresponding cable 24 or 25 will also be pulled downward and move the guide bars, and in turn the jaws, away from each other and enlarge the space between them. When pressure is removed from the pedal ends the springs 4 acting on the guide bars will pull the jaws to closed position.

In Figures 9 and 10 I have illustrated an electrically actuated operating mechanism. In this mechanism the cables 24 extend from the guidey bars, around rotatable sheaves 28 and 2 respec-A tively and are joined together to form singlef cables 34 which extend downward and are swivel connected to levers 35. The levers 35 are pivotly mounted on pins 35 which are fixed to any suit-4 able iixed member 31 0n my table or stand. Fixed.

to this same member 31 are solenoids 38 with plungers 39. The plungers 39 are pivotly con-- nected to and actuate the levers 35. An electric circuit is energized by a battery 4l or other electrical source when a switch 42 is closed by a. particular foot treadle 43. When either or both of the solenoids are energized the plungers 39 will pull on the levers 35 and they in turn will pull on the cables the respective cables connected to them and move the clamps apart to open position.

To operate my device the operator steps on both of the foot treadles which actuate the cables that pull on the guide bars. The guide bars when actuated by the cables cause the slide bearing blocks and jaws to slide along the guide bars. All of the jaws can be moved simultaneously or only one pair of jaws can be moved by operating just one of the foot pedals. When the guide bars are pulled apart the space between the jaws will be enlarged and conversely when the guide bars are pulled towards each other the space between the jaws is decreased. When the jaws are apart a quantity of sheets or money 44 is placed on top of the center column with the ends raised slightly above the plane of the top of the column and the base of the jaws. Pressure on the pedal or pedals is then released and the springs will draw the jaws towards the center of my clamping device until the jaws contact the stacks of sheets or money to be packaged. Usually a small number of sheets are used to gage the spacing of the jaws and hold them at the proper distance apart. rfhereafter, other sheets placed on top of the base layer will self-align themselves and this aligning action produces uniform dimensioned packages for the same size of sheets. When the clamps grip the package a wrapper 45 previously placed on top of the column can be folded around the package and pasted to hold the stack in compact condition. For each succeeding individual stack as shown in Figure 5 the wrapper is placed on top of the previously wrapped package. In Figures 1 and 5 I have shown how individual packages 44 can be held and combined into a master package 46 by tying them together with a string 41 while they are in the clamp as shown in Figure l. The open areas between the top of the column and base permits unobstructed and easy access for the hands while applying the string 49 around and tying the packages securely together.

Having described my invention and desiring to secure Letters Patent, I claim:

l. In a clamping device for bundling laminated packages comprising; a frame, multiple jaw means with base plate means for holding and positioning laminated materials of said packages. slidable means for supporting and moving said holding means positioned on different plane levels and in pairs supported endwise on said frame, perpendicularly arranged slidable means mounted to move transverse each to the other for supporting and moving said rst slidable means to simultaneously move said holding means.

2. In a clamping device for bundling laminated remises fportin'g andffinov-ngs'aid slide' blocks, said-2si=ide .said :slidalle 1 bearing smacks, means :for moving 1 said guide hars fimiividually -`Aparallel v fand :perlpendienlarly 'feach pto :themother,.electricalr means for actuating `the i'means'ifor moving ssa-id guide .fhars, f andfatped-al :aetnatedfiswitchv meansto enerigizeisa-id.: electrical means-iand'lthereby move said :guide bars individuallyiparfallelvandf perpendicu- -larly on diierentfp'lane levels each to the Iother -fandactuateisaids grippingrmeans.

.24.f1nval clamping'devicef'for bundling'sheetma- *terials comprising jawsearrangedinwa quadrangle, -slide vbearing `blocks :fixed to f-sai'd ijavvs, Jslidalole Tguide H-lcars ,positioned .on diferenhplane levels Aarranged ein :pairs 'ztransvelfse each to lthe other gmovalole a transversely r:andiperpendicular :to each =;other, said u:slide shearing .blocks slidalolel onsaid @guide bars andmovable therewith, cable means ifor:movingr-saidrguide bars:A andl pedal means for actuating-.said Ycables and-moving'- said jaws and :guide-Hbars` simultaneously: relative ytofeach. other.

5. Inraf clampingarrdholding device lror vloundling sheet materials -comprsing;` jaws arranged inpairs to` form .aquadrangle slide bearing blocks xed'to "each vof sadjaws, slidable parallel guide bars arranged in pairs on different plane levels and said =pairs of L slidallole parallel "guide bars adapted to .sl-ideY transversely to'feach other, said slide bearing blocks slidableon and actuated by .said'sldalole parallel guide"`bars relative to each 'other c and =`in relation'to a supporting guide bar simultaneously, andpablemeans for vactuating said y'pairs of` guidebars simultaneously jor, individually to vary the size of the' quadrangleformed'by saidjaws.

6. .Inra device for tyingisheets of materials-in bundles, .having jawsfarranged V,in a quadrangle.`

tol hold and position sheets ,oimaterial whileftying hthemttogether, slide bearingfblo'cks lined to-said jaws, slidable guidebarsfor slidably supporting and moving said slide bearing blocks, a base and guide rails secured to said base, shoes Xed to said guide bars and slidable on said guide rails to keep said guide bars in parallel and rectilinear relation while said guide bars are in motion, cable means connected to parallel pairs of guide bars, and pedal means for actuating said cable and a respective pair of guide bars simultaneously or separately to change the position of the said jaws and accommodate them to variable sizes of bundles to be tied.

7. A clamping device having a plurality of jaws with horizontal base plates adapted to move relative to and independent to each other comprising; a main frame, guide bar means slidably supported endwise on said frame, and slide bearing blocks supporting said jaws and slidably mounted on said guide bar means, said guide bar means arranged in multiple parallel pairs positioned on different plane levels and perpendicular to each other to actuate said jaws.

8. A clamping device having a plurality of jaws "adap todito -fmove :relative vitc .f-ntependertgof eea'chfo'therf comprising; maint ramaigoide bar imeans `supportedsfendw-:ls'e fmovableinlfsaidimain l fra-me arranged 2in @parallel i' pairs, 5and isposed fperpendicuiarftoieachother, slide bearingrbloeks .fixedIntosaid"jawn-movable:impairs:fon:and along :andslidably.lconnectingfsaid:.guideibarsmeans.ato imove saidjaws relative to land?independent each :toi the other.

V9. :nclampingdeviceehaving:apluralityedf jaws adapted to move l relative: to and Jindependentrof each other .:comprising; a iframe, gu-ide means `@sumaorted endwiseiandrslirlablefon sa-idfframeland arranged l in pairs and 'fdisp'oseid `:at right angles r each Ito thefiotherion niterent fplaneilevels, fand rs'lideloearing.,blocksnxedtorthej saidxjaws mount- A#ed on and islidably :lconnectingisaid:guide fmeans ...intoianfexpandableparallelogram 'andadaptedfto zniove onandfalo'ng on i thesaidiguidemieans'awhile :moving relative:.tovxor.y independent(ot'ieachfftofthe :othentoactuateisaidjaws,

:10. iA :clamping device having .-.a .plurality fof jaws;:adapted@to,rj move relative'srto fandi independent fof :each other kr.fcomprising; a xframe, guide barfmeans slidably mounted :tendwise :andqg-.udfed.'on'saidlframasaidiguid'efbanmeans arranged in space'dpairs :disposed-:fa l`.right tangles kveachlto the other fand fron y'differentiplanehlevels, slide lhearing -t-fbloeks 'r-xed yto .rsaid :jaws '.fimounte'd on and slidably :connecting Asaid .guide f'bar lmeans :and :adapted Ito move :Elon #and `:along :said guide '.harxmcans-said jaws arranged 'in pairssandcany .zone of saidjaws: comprisingffaf;pairffof Yjawssm'ovable relative to @its :mating "jaw *while moving f relative:=tor another pairJoffjawsiluponemovement of :sa-idiguide:barrme'ans.

L11. :A :'iclamping :device '.having :a -plurality 'of vjaws adapted tofmovefrelative `:to andindependrlent of :each'fother comprising; paiirame, guide 1 har means.'v slidablyfmounted:onendsf thereof on :fsaidlframes-Larranged iin pairs andcsaidfpairsfdisyfpose'dfat :right angles :each ",tothe IJotherxion dif s'erent 'planelflevelsgfslide :bearing: blocks fnxe'df to said 4jaws im'ounted on 'ra-and .fslidable along `'and -with'saidguideubarfmeans' said.r guidecbar :means being slidably mounted 1in said y:'s'lide inbearing blocks at right angles each to thaotheriadapted to fmoveaitheasaid'ljaws relative tooriindependent f of feach Vother and vfrel-ative Lto e one vof said :jaws `:held inf'za 1 stationary fposition.

112, SA clamping .f'device having :za fi plurality of jaws adapted @to rmovefirelative rito for il independ- :ent Vof each toxithe other fcomprising; .a f frame,

guide bar means arranged in pairs on dirlerent plane levels slidably supported endwise and guided on said frame, slide bearing blocks i'ixed to said jaws slidably mounted on and adapted to move along and with said guide bar means and actuated by said guide bar means when said guide bar means are moved transverse to each other and said jaws adapted to move in pairs relative to each other.

13. A clamping device having a plurality of jaws arranged in a quadrangle comprising; a frame, guide bar means slidably guided on said frame arranged in pairs and disposed at right angles each to the other on different plane levels, slide bearing blocks fixed to said jaws slidably mounted on said guide bar means and adapted to move on and along said guide bar means when said guide bar means are actuated, and pedal means for actuating said pairs of guide bar means simultaneously or separately in pairs.

14. A clamping device having a plurality of jaws arranged in pairs movable relative to and independent of each other in pairs or individually comprising; a frame, a plurality of guide bar means slidable on said frame, slide bearing blocks supporting said jaws and connecting said guide bar means at right angles and in diierent planes and said guide blocks being movable on and along said guide means when said guide means are actuated, and a plurality of pedal means adapted to actuate said guide bar means and the jaws in pairs relative each to the other or simultaneously each to the other.

15. A clamping fixture for bundling sheet materials comprising; respective pairs of parallel guide bars, said pairs of bars being disposed one above the other and at right angles to each other, stationary guide rails slidably engaging the opposite ends of the bars of each of said pairs, bearing blocks slidably connecting the respective upper and lower bars of each pair at the intersection thereof to guide the bars of each pair for parallel lateral movement relative to each other, a standard secured to each of said bearing blocks adapted to engage the corners of a bundle of sheet material, and means for adjusting the respective bars of each pair relative to each other to vary the position of said bearing blocks and standards to receive and engage the corners of a bundle of sheet material.

16. A clamping fixture for bundling sheet materials comprising; a base, guide rails secured to said base, a pair of parallel bars, each of said bars having its opposite ends slidably engaged with said guide rails, a second pair of parallel bars disposed above and at right angles to said rst mentioned pair, each of said bars having its opposite ends slidably engaged with said guide rails, respective bearing blocks connecting said bars together at the intersection of each upper and lower bar, an angular standard adapted to embrace the corner of a bundle of sheet ma- L terial secured to each of said bearing blocks, and means connected to each of said bars respectively to move the bars of each respective pair toward or from each other to vary the opening defined by said standards to clamp various sized bundles of sheet materials therebetween for fastening.

17. A clamping fixture for bundling sheet materials comprising; fixed rails arranged in a quadrangle, respective pairs of parallel guide bars slidable in said guide rails, said pair of bars being disposed one above the other and at right angles to each other, means for guiding said bars for movement relative to each other in their respective planes, the respective guide bars of each pair being connected together by means of bearing blocks slidably engaging the upper and lower movable bar of each individual pair, means for moving said movable bars in parallelism laterally relative to each other to adjust the position of said guide blocks, and a standard secured to each of said bearing blocks to receive a package of sheet material therebetween and to hold the same in assembled relationship for fastening.

18. A clamping iixture for bundling sheet materials comprising; a base, stationary guide rails secured to said base, respective pairs of movable bars disposed at right angles relative to each other one above the other, said pairs of movable bars including slide blocks at opposite ends slidably engaged on said stationary rails, respective bearing blocks connecting said movable bars together at the intersection of each upper and lower bar whereby each movable bar of a pair is movable in parallel relationship to the other, spring means for drawing the individual bars o1 each pair toward each other, actuating means connected to each of said bars for moving said bars individually away from each other, an angular standard secured to each of said slide blocks and adapted to receive a bundle of sheet material for engagement at the corners thereof, said standards and bearing blocks movable toward each other under the influence of said spring means to conform to the contour of the bundle to maintain the same in position for fastening, and said actuating means arranged for drawing said bearing blocks and standards away from each other to receive said bundle.

HARRY D. CULVER.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 919,007 Hargrave Apr. 20, 1909 1,246,557 Crowder Nov. 13, 1917 1,577,701 Edmond Mar. 23, 1926 2,418,550 Edwards Apr. 8, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 4,636 Great Britain Feb. 24, 1902 19,722 Denmark Jan. 8, 1915 681,689 France Feb. 3, 1930 

